Kennedy Round: Togo to Get 3,500 Tons of Rice from Japan Next December

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Tuesday, 26 September 2023 17:26

Kennedy Round: Togo to Get 3,500 Tons of Rice from Japan Next December

(Togo First) - Japan just donated a billion CFA (250 million yen) to Togo, under the Kennedy Round (KR) food aid project. The funds will be used to buy 3,600 tons of rice, according to the agreement inked on September 25, in Lomé, by the Japanese Ambassador to Togo, Ikkatai Katsuya, and the Togolese Minister of Agriculture, Antoine Gbégbéni.

The rice, which will arrive next December, will be sold at “a reasonable cost” and returns from its sale will be pooled into a counterpart fund that will finance various socio-economic development projects in areas including agriculture and education.

"The importance of this food aid from KR projects in the economic, social, and food life of our populations no longer needs to be demonstrated. That's why, once again, we want to welcome the continuation of this food aid, and especially the strengthening of this program," said Antoine Gbégbéni, the Minister of Agriculture.

The Togolese official added that funds collected from Kennedy Round (KR) 2018, 2019, and 2020, will serve to accelerate agricultural mechanization in the country.

Between 2008 and 2022, Togo benefited from thirteen KR projects, totaling around CFA20 billion for a total volume of 100,551 tonnes of cereals.

Esaïe Edoh

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